A first: US allowed to check Indian warship

Ray · 07-08-12, 09:03 PM

A first: US allowed to check Indian warship

SUJAN DUTTA

he INS Jalashva and (right) a UH 3H helicopter from the Indian Naval Air Squadron 538 on its deck

New Delhi, Aug. 6: India has for the first time permitted the US to inspect an Indian warship to ensure that the navy was not distorting its use, a senior source in the defence establishment has confirmed to The Telegraph.

This is the first time that India permitted an “intrusive” inspection of one of its key military platforms by foreigners.

Ironically, the first inspection in the country has happened under defence minister A.K. Antony’s watch even though he is particularly touchy on the subject of defence relations with the US.

But instead of allowing the US “Golden Sentry” team to board and examine the equipment, the Indian Navy removed the equipment from the warship — also imported from the US — and asked the inspectors from Pentagon to check them at a different location.

The navy is still queasy and uncomfortable about allowing foreign inspectors to check its platforms. But it was complying with the provisions of an End-User Monitoring Agreement that India standardised with the US in 2009.

Asked about the inspection, an Indian defence ministry source said: “This is really a matter for the navy and it is not up to us. We are not aware of it.”

An Indian navy source said: “We are complying with what was agreed between governments,” but he declined to call the inspection “intrusive”.

Queried by The Telegraph, a US embassy official said: “These (such inspections) are really in the domain of government-to-government relations between India and the US and in accordance with legal requirements.”

The inspection took place in late 2011. Since then, the Indian Navy has refitted the INS Jalashva — formerly the USS Trenton. Much of the new electronic equipment such as navigational aids have been manufactured in India’s own defence public sector undertakings like Bharat Electronics Limited.

The INS Jalashva (L41) was known as the USS Trenton before the Indian Navy inducted it in its eastern fleet in June 2007 at a cost of about $50 million plus about $40 million for six helicopters.

The purchase of the USS Trenton was red-flagged by the comptroller and auditor general in a March 2008 report.

The equipment the US inspectors asked to check were night-vision devices used by the INS Jalashva landing platform dock and its six onboard UH-3H Seaking maritime utility transport helicopters.

Distinctly uncomfortable with the US request to inspect the equipment, the navy at first tried to fob it off. But then reached a compromise.

The navy told the US inspectors that it would remove the components from the Jalashva that is based at the eastern fleet headquarters in Vishakhapatnam where they could be checked.

It is understood that the devices were removed from the ship and the helicopters and taken to an airfield/helipad where the inspection was carried out.

The Pentagon’s Defence Sales Cooperation Agency (DSCA) classified night-vision devices as highly sensitive equipment. Modern night-vision devices used on warships are sophisticated digitised machinery packed into waterproof containers with telescopic sights.

An image intensifier highlights the target being sighted and magnifies it to a level of light that allows the trained human eye to interpret them. The digital records of the images sighted through the device can be logged. Theoretically, an inspector can go through the logs to check the images that have been sighted and recorded.

India has signed or has in the pipeline $10 billion of US-origin military hardware. Each of the projects is liable to be inspected under the US’ Arms Export Control Act administered by the Pentagon’s DSCA that has to submit “annual compliance reports”.

The US has end-user agreements with about 80 countries but it is still politically unpalatable in many countries.

Military equipment, such as the INS Jalashva, purchased through a government-to-government foreign military sales programme are subject to inspections under the Pentagon’s “Golden Sentry” programme that dispatches “Tiger Teams” to do the job.

Direct commercial sales of military hardware by US-based companies to India are subject to inspections under a programme called “Blue Lantern”.

A first: US allowed to check Indian warship

This is what happens when you buy US equipment.

W.G.Ewald · 07-08-12, 09:13 PM

Well, there's a bad precedent. IN is going to set itself up in business separate from MoD? Imagine the possibilities!

W.G.Ewald · 07-08-12, 09:15 PM

DSCA's E-SAMM - C8.2 - Golden Sentry

pmaitra · 07-08-12, 09:18 PM

There is a big debate between procuring weapons from Russia, Israel, and France, who require less stringent regulations, and from USA, that requires a lot of checks and balances. Sensible from the US point of view, but is it sensible form the Indian point of view?

This brings to the fore the fundamental problem - indigenization.

Agni5 · 07-08-12, 11:23 PM

Dassault is best example.

KS · 07-08-12, 11:29 PM

Waiting for reaction from comrades...

Rahul Singh · 07-08-12, 11:42 PM

I am feeling insulted............It was for a reason why people had supported an idea of developing/building next generation MPA by sourcing platform and much of the electronics from all over world (except US) with or without technical help. I am sure, Navy ranks operating and commanding P-8Is won't like it at all when these US inspectors will jump inside their aircraft.

mahesh · 08-08-12, 12:38 AM

was it neccesary to purchase USS Trenton (INS Jalashva (L41)) from US even when you know US equipments purchases willl come under US’ Arms Export Control Act !!!!

and still how long this will happen on INS Jalashva's part ? till it's decommissioned ?

i can't imagine india has signed or has in the pipeline $10 billion of US-origin military hardware.

The Messiah · 08-08-12, 02:05 AM

Piss off! This has nothing to do with left wing or right wing.

Any Indian would be against this thing. I am not against usa because of some ideological shit...i am against it because i know what will happen.

Btw i also support our defense relationship with israel...so how does that fit in with my supposed ideology ? I will support relation with the devil if it benefitted India. But for some people petty politics is above the motherland.

roma · 08-08-12, 03:57 AM

it's actually better for both nations to send a strong signal to the usa about one's dislike of these inspections and that it will affect future purchases - india has alternatives - better let the usa know and save the relationship

bhramos · 08-08-12, 09:12 AM

“Blue. Lantern” end-use monitoring program

http://exportcontrol.org/library/con...nce_Mar_06.pdf

so the INS Jalshwa will no where be used in any case of war scenario...

asianobserve · 08-08-12, 09:28 AM

What's the fuss all about? Inspection? That's not a big matter. India should also inspect US weapons...

Folk hero · 08-08-12, 01:54 PM

The fuss is about some fat-@ss global police coming and inspecting our stuff.

I don't know how my country men fell about it but personally it burns

Ray · 08-08-12, 03:54 PM

To be fair, we should not have bought the ship.

It was a part of the Agreement.

Can't renegade on that now!

KS · 08-08-12, 04:04 PM

Oh please..just dont puff up your chest like a pigeon.

If you dont agree to their conditions or like it, just dont buy stuff from them. Very simple. They aint forcing us to buy anything.

But if you want to buy from them in view of the superior technology, precise delivery times then unfortunately we have to agree with their conditions. Its not like the powers-that-be did not know of this when they bought it. Just like we still have not got access to the engine technology in Brahmos.

A first: US allowed to check Indian warship

Ray

W.G.Ewald

W.G.Ewald

pmaitra

Agni5

KS

Rahul Singh

mahesh

The Messiah

roma

bhramos

asianobserve

Folk hero

Ray

KS

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